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Is the OK Sign Racist? Cubs Fan’s Gesture Sparks Outrage

The Chicago Cubs have banned a fan from Wrigley Field for life after he made a “racist gesture,” on a live television broadcast of Tuesday night’s game. Ash-har Quraishi reports. (Published Wednesday, May 8, 2019)

The Chicago Cubs have banned a fan from Wrigley Field for life after he made what the team deemed an "offensive" gesture on a live television broadcast of Tuesday night’s game.

The apparent racist rebirth of the symbol is tracked by anti-hate groups like the Anti-Defamation League to a 2017 hoax campaign orchestrated on notorious message board 4chan.

"The 'OK' hand gesture originated as one of these hoaxes in February 2017 when an anonymous 4channer announced 'Operation O-KKK,' telling other members that 'we must flood Twitter and other social media websites … claiming that the OK hand sign is a symbol of white supremacy,'" an ADL blog post reads.

Some have pointed out confusion over the alleged racist salute and the "circle game" popular among kids in schoolyards. One person makes a circle with their index finger and thumb, holds it below their waist and if another person looks at it they receive a playful punch to the shoulder.

Many social media users have been quick to mention this, including in the Wrigley Field incident, and dismiss the racist accusations outright.

While outrage was quick to spread on social media, experts on extremism threw cold water on the flames.

"Out of all the things you should be legitimately concerned about regarding the Senate confirmation hearings in Washington, DC, today for Judge Kavanaugh & SCOTUS, handshakes and handsigns ought not be among them. Actual serious constitutional issues are at stake," the ADL’s Mark Pitcavage tweeted in response. "Actual serious constitutional issues are at stake."

So what about the fan in the Friendly Confines Tuesday night?

"The incident last night is truly disgusting," Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein told reporters in the clubhouse before the game. "It gave me shivers to watch that, to see that take place at Wrigley Field. Appropriately, we’ve made clear how egregious and unacceptable that behavior is, and there’s no place for that in society, in baseball, and Wrigley Field. The person responsible for that gesture will never be welcomed back at Wrigley Field."

The person seen forming the symbol with his fingers has not been identified and NBC 5 has been unable to reach him for comment.